Pancho Segura facts for kids
Pancho Segura in 1961
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| Full name | Francisco Olegario Segura |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Ecuador United States |
| Born | June 20, 1921 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Died | November 18, 2017 (aged 96) Carlsbad, California, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Turned pro | 1947 (amateur from 1939) |
| Retired | 1970 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed forehand, one-handed backhand) |
| College | University of Miami |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 1984 (member page) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1292–825 (61.0%) |
| Career titles | 66 |
| Highest ranking | U.S. No. 1 professional (1950, USPLTA) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 3R (1946) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (1946) |
| US Open | SF (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Professional majors | |
| US Pro | W (1950, 1951, 1952) |
| Wembley Pro | F (1951, 1957, 1959, 1960) |
| French Pro | W (1950) |
| Other pro events | |
| TOC | W (1957AU) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | F (1946) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1946) |
| US Open | F (1944) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| US Open | F (1943, 1947) |
Francisco Olegario Segura (born June 20, 1921 – died November 18, 2017), known to many as Pancho Segura, was a famous tennis player from the 1940s and 1950s. He played both as an amateur and later as a professional. Pancho was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He moved to the United States in the late 1930s.
Pancho Segura was the only player to win the U.S. Pro and International Pro tennis titles on three different types of courts, doing so from 1950 to 1952. He also won the very first professional Tournament of Champions in Sydney in 1957. In 1950, 1951, and 1952, he was ranked as the number one professional tennis player in the U.S.
Pancho's most powerful shot was his two-handed forehand. He played college tennis for the University of Miami's team, the Miami Hurricanes.
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Pancho's Early Life
Pancho Segura was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was the first of seven children. As a baby, he faced many health problems like hernias, malaria, and rickets, which caused his legs to be badly bowed. Even though he was only about 5 feet 6 inches tall, he was incredibly fast on the court. He had a powerful two-handed forehand shot. Another famous tennis player, Jack Kramer, once said it was the best shot ever in tennis!
By the time he was 17, Pancho had won many tennis titles in Latin America. He was offered a tennis scholarship by Gardnar Mulloy, who was the tennis coach at the University of Miami. Pancho then won the National Collegiate Singles Championship three years in a row, from 1943 to 1945.
Amateur Tennis Career
Pancho Segura had a very successful amateur career before becoming a professional.
Winning Tournaments in the 1940s
In 1941, Pancho won the Brooklyn clay court championships. He also won the Hispano invitation event. He played in the U.S. Championships, where fans loved his exciting style of play. He won the Dade County championships and reached the final of the Sugar Bowl tournament.
In 1942, Pancho won the Florida west coast title and the Cincinnati event. He defended his Brooklyn title and won the New Jersey state tournament without losing a single game in the final! He also won the Eastern clay court championships, using his two-handed drives to keep opponents on the defensive. Later that year, he won the Longwood Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
Pancho continued his winning streak in 1943. He won the Pan American championships in Mexico City and the Miami tournament. He also won the New Jersey event and the Eastern grass court championships. He won the Southampton invitation and, for the second time, the Pan American championships in Mexico City.
In 1944, Pancho won the U.S. clay court event and the Cincinnati tournament. He also won the Western states tournament in a tough five-set match. He won the Southampton invitation again. He reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Championships and won the Pan American championships in Mexico City for the third time.
In 1945, Pancho won the Roney Plaza event in Miami. He reached the final of the national clay court championships and the semi-finals of the U.S. Championships.
By 1946, Pancho won the U.S. Indoors event, becoming the first non-American to win it since 1931. He also won the Miami tournament and the title at Queens. He played at Wimbledon and the French championships.
In 1947, Pancho won the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club tournament and the Southampton invitation. He also won titles in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, beating Frank Parker in both finals.
Becoming a Professional Player
In 1947, Pancho Segura decided to become a professional tennis player. This was before the "Open Era" of tennis, when professionals and amateurs could play together. Pancho quickly became a favorite with the crowds because of his friendly smile, funny personality, and unique, powerful playing style.
Early Professional Years
In 1948, Pancho played against Dinny Pails on a tour. Even though he lost the tour, he was still a big draw for fans. In 1949, he played tough matches against Jack Kramer, one of the top players, in the semi-finals of the Wembley Pro championships.
Becoming a Top Pro
In 1950, Pancho won a tour against Frank Parker. He also won a tournament in Paris. At the 1950 U.S. Pro Championship, he had an amazing comeback win against Jack Kramer and then beat Frank Kovacs in the final. Because of this win, he was ranked the number one professional player in the U.S. for 1950.
In 1951, Pancho played against Jack Kramer in a major professional tour. He performed much better than other players had against Kramer. Pancho won the Canadian Pro title. He also won the 1951 U.S. Pro Championship, which helped him keep his number one U.S. professional ranking. He won a tournament in Berlin and another in Oslo.
Pancho continued his success in 1952. He won the U.S. Pro Clay Court title and the U.S. Pro Championships in Cleveland. He also won the Canadian Pro title again and an event in Paris. For the third year in a row, he was ranked the number one professional player in the U.S.
Later Professional Career
In 1953, Pancho played against Ken McGregor on a World Series tour, winning many matches. He won tournaments in Caracas, Scarborough (England), Munich, and Lyon.
In 1954, Pancho was the runner-up to Pancho Gonzales in the U.S. Pro final. He won the Pacific Coast Pro in Beverly Hills. He was ranked second in the world by the International Professional Tennis Association.
In 1957, Pancho won the first-ever Ampol Tournament of Champions in Sydney, Australia. This was a very important win for him, and he considered it his greatest tournament victory. He beat Pancho Gonzales in a thrilling five-set semi-final and then won the final in three sets.
In 1958, Pancho won the Alaska Pro championships. He also won the L.A. Masters Pro Championship in Los Angeles, beating all six of his opponents, including top players like Gonzales and Lew Hoad.
In 1959, Pancho reached the final of the Wembley Pro tournament, losing to Mal Anderson. He also won the Ramat Gan tournament in Israel.
In 1960, at 39 years old, Pancho still showed amazing speed and skill on the court. He reached the final of the Wembley Pro, beating Lew Hoad and Frank Sedgman before losing to Ken Rosewall.
Pancho continued to win tournaments in the early 1960s, including events in Brazil, Italy, and the Netherlands. In 1962, he won the Dutch Pro Championships and a tournament in Cannes, France.
From 1963 to 1970, Pancho kept playing. He won the California Pro in 1965 and the Fresno tournament in 1965 and 1966. In 1966, at 45 years old, he beat Ken Rosewall in the semi-finals of the Binghamton Pro. As the "Open Era" of tennis began, allowing professionals to play in major tournaments again, Pancho's career was ending. He played in the U.S. Open in 1968 and 1970. In 1970, at 49, he won his first-round match against a player 30 years younger than him!
How Good Was Pancho?
Many tennis experts and players thought Pancho Segura was one of the greatest players of all time. Jack Kramer, a former world No. 1, said Pancho probably played "more matches against top players than anyone in history." Kramer and Lew Hoad both said Pancho's two-handed forehand was the best tennis shot they had ever seen.
Life After Playing Tennis
In 1962, Pancho Segura became a tennis coach at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club. Many of his students were famous movie stars like Doris Day, Julie Andrews, and Charlton Heston.
Pancho also coached some future tennis champions, including Jimmy Connors, Tracy Austin, and Stan Smith. He is especially known for helping Jimmy Connors develop his playing style from a young age.
In 1971, Pancho moved to the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, where he continued to teach and eventually retired.
In 1984, Pancho Segura was honored by being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. He became an American citizen in 1991.
Pancho's Passing
Pancho Segura passed away on November 18, 2017, at his home in Carlsbad, California. He was 96 years old and had been dealing with Parkinson's disease. A memorial service was held to celebrate his life, attended by many friends, family, and tennis legends he had coached.
Images for kids
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Pancho Segura in 1961
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Segura para niños
